Propeller for ships.



No. 63,9,l34. Patented Dec. I2, I899.

1 J. A. BELK.

PROPELLER F HIPS.

(Application filed Se 2 1898.)

(No Model.)

Flo /c I nvan Ear.

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JOHN ALGEN BELK, OF l/VELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND.

PROPELLER FOR SHIPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,l34=, datedDecember 12, 1899. Application filed September 28,1898. Serial No.692,090. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ALGEN BELK, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at 54: Lambton Quay, Wellington, New Zealand, haveinvented an Improved Propeller for Ships and Boats, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to propellers used for driving steamships and thelike through the Water; and the object of the invention is to provide apropeller of high eificiency and whereby the jar and shaking to whichvessels fitted with ordinary propellers are sub jected are obviated andwhereby a saving of steam, and consequently of fuel, ensues and racingof the engines avoided.

The propeller may be fitted to vessels at present constructed, the hullsbeing slightly altered to suit, if necessary.

A propeller constructed in accordance with my invention preferably hasthree blades arranged in the.manner of a treble-threaded screw aroundthe propeller shaft. I may, however, employ four or more blades. Theperiphery of each blade is a portion of a spiral, the propeller thusbeing conical. The smaller diameter of the propeller is placed to leadand cut the water first.

The invention is illustrated on the attached drawings, to whichreference will now be made for purposes of a detailed description.

Figure l is a view of the stern of a vessel with the propeller inposition. Fig. 2 is a side View of the propeller on a larger scale. Fig.

3 is an end view of the same, looking at the leading end.

Similar letters refer to similar parts.

Referring to the drawings, the screw ahas three or more blades a, a anda arranged and shaped as shown, their peripheries a a and a,respectively, being spirals and expanding through two hundred and fortydegrees approximately of a circle. The said blades are disposed aroundthe boss T) in the positions shown on Fig. 3. The propeller is placed inthe usual stern-frame, and owing to its shape works with greatsmoothness and little vibration.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

In combination with a propeller-shaft a conical screw-propeller adjustedupon said shaft with its smaller diameter leading, the propellercomprising three or more blades having spiral peripheries extendingapproximately through two hundred and forty degrees of a circle,each ofthe blades springing from points equidistant from the ends of the bossand all the said blades ending in points equidistant from the end of theboss, substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, this 8th day ofJune, 1898, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN ALGEN BELK. Witnesses:

A. S. GoLLINs, W. ALEXANDER.

